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Ryanair adds Warsaw to Aldergrove destinations - with more to follow

Warsaw has been added to Ryanair's destinations from Belfast International Airport
Warsaw has been added to Ryanair's destinations from Belfast International Airport Warsaw has been added to Ryanair's destinations from Belfast International Airport

RYANAIR will today announce further destinations to be served from its new base at Belfast International Airport, including Polish capital Warsaw.

The budget carrier is back in Belfast after a six-year absence and last month started flying to London Gatwick from Aldergrove.

It had already announced another route to Krakow in Poland and a string of sun destinations including Alicante, Lanzarote, Malaga and Tenerife in addition to much sought after city connections to Berlin and Milan.

Those flights are due to start taking off in September.

Modlin Airport - Warsaw's second airport - announced yesterday Ryanair planned a number of flights to UK destinations including Belfast.

But it may only be the tip of the iceberg. Ryanair's flamboyant chief executive Michael O'Leary has said he would like to serve as many as 40 routes from Belfast International.

However, he said that could only be achieved if the government moves to scrap air passenger duty (APD).

The expansion is expected to create hundreds of jobs at Belfast International Airport - already 300 have been announced.

Ryanair had previously operated from George Best Belfast City Airport but left in 2010 when a planned runway extension failed to materialise.

Meanwhile, the baton was officially handed over to Belfast to host the Routes Europe conference next year.

The event - the 2016 version has been taking place in Krakow over recent days - brings together airlines, airport and tourism authorities to share future air route networks.

The City Airport's commercial and marketing director Katy Best said it would represent "an unrivalled opportunity for route development".

"Belfast City Airport has taken full advantage of the event in recent years as we have expanded our European route network with the arrival of Brussels Airlines and KLM within the last year," she said.

"Bringing 1,200 delegates to Belfast for Routes Europe 2017 is a fantastic opportunity for Northern Ireland and with the eyes of the aviation world on the city, we will continue to work very closely with Belfast City Council, Visit Belfast and Invest NI to ensure all delegates enjoy the world class hospitality and true charm of the city."

Authorities from both Belfast airports were in Krakow for the latest conference to meet with delegates from airlines and airports across Europe.